Chapter Seventy-Three: United Against the Ghost

“It seems this really is something valuable!” Song Nianqiang narrowed his eyes and examined it carefully. “A miniature Ghost King Token suits your current status perfectly.” Hearing this, Number Seven was genuinely surprised. “You actually know about the Ghost King Token?! That’s impossible! There are absolutely no more than five living ghost hunters in the world right now, and in China, definitely no more than three!” The Ghost King Token, as a symbol of a ghost hunter’s power, was considered a second life by every master. They would never show it to outsiders.

“Is this thing really that valuable? Look, I’ve got another one.” As he spoke, Song Nianqiang fished another Ghost King Token out of his pocket. Number Seven nearly popped his eyes out at the sight, his trembling finger pointing at the token in Song Nianqiang’s hand as he stammered, “H-h-h-h-how is that possible?! How could you have a Ghost King Token?!”

With his experience, Number Seven could instantly tell that the token Song Nianqiang held was absolutely authentic. His shock was greater than if he’d discovered his own son was a foreigner. But Song Nianqiang had no idea what the token represented, so he asked in confusion, “Is this really such a good thing?”

“Of course! The token I have was made as a replica after borrowing one from a master ghost hunter’s apprentice. That apprentice is almost at the level of a master himself, but he’s just never had the chance to meet a Ghost King.” Only after Number Seven’s explanation did Song Nianqiang realize the true value of the Ghost King Token in his hand.

“Moreover, as long as your cultivation is strong enough, holding this token lets you command legions of ghosts. Of course, with our current abilities, even with the token, we can’t command a skin-peeling ghost on the verge of ascending to the third ghost class. Besides, each token has only one rightful owner per generation. Unless the previous owner willingly severs the contract, you can’t use it.”

After hearing Number Seven’s words, Song Nianqiang was still unsure of the token’s power. “Looks like I really lucked out—spending just a hundred yuan at a flea market and picking up something this valuable!” His excitement was barely contained. Number Seven almost dropped to his knees—extraordinary people truly couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.

“They’re coming!” The Fat Man and Li Runze shouted almost at the same time. At their words, all the lights in the building suddenly went out, and a blood-red hue descended over the room. Sinister laughter echoed in everyone’s hearts. Song Nianqiang was the first to look toward the window, followed by Li Runze and the Fat Man.

A ghastly pale hand reached in, its long fingernails screeching against the glass with a sound that made one’s scalp tingle. Number Seven’s recruits were all newcomers—though they’d passed the tests, it was their first time facing ghosts, and the psychological pressure was immense. The two of them raised their pistols and fired wildly.

Even after they emptied their magazines, the eerie noise persisted, though the pale hand had vanished. “Careful!” Number Seven, relying on his years of experience dealing with the supernatural, made the right call. The button-sized Ghost King Token in his hand flashed with golden light as he hurled it toward a trembling newcomer with a gun.

A piercing scream rang out. A ghostly shadow appeared behind the rookie, only to be pierced through the head by a whistling arrow. Instantly, the ghost dissolved into a wisp of green smoke.

“A Shadow Ghost!” Song Nianqiang was stunned. Shadow Ghosts were notorious among ghosts for their cunning. Even if you opened your spirit eye, they were almost impossible to spot unless your cultivation far surpassed theirs. For the skin-peeling ghost to control one, its power must have been terrifying.

“Stay alert! There will definitely be more ghosts coming. Tonight, we’re in for a vicious fight!” Number Seven kept a close watch on their surroundings, positioning the mother and child in the center.

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through as a dozen grave ghosts rushed in. After their earlier ordeal, the two rookies with pistols had gained some courage. Both were crack shots from the military, so shooting down these mindless, charging ghosts was easy.

Each shot was a headshot. Even the occasional miss still hit a vital spot. In no time, all the grave ghosts were reduced to drifting green smoke.

Number Seven looked at them with approval, satisfied with their performance—his own first time hadn’t been much better. As for Li Runze and the archer, he didn’t factor them in—extraordinary people couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.

“Twelve o’clock—another Shadow Ghost!” Li Runze suddenly opened his previously closed eye. The moment he spoke, the archer fired in the direction he indicated, but the arrow struck the Shadow Ghost in the shoulder rather than the head. Still, it forced the ghost to reveal itself. The archer quickly nocked another arrow and fired again, this time striking true. The Shadow Ghost’s head was pierced, and it dissolved into smoke.

“Courting death!” Just as the Shadow Ghost was dispatched, Li Runze shouted and swung his gloved fists toward the sleeping child’s forehead. Everyone else’s attention was focused on the Shadow Ghost—only Li Runze noticed another was already near the child.

With a sharp pop, Li Runze’s punch forced the Shadow Ghost back. Simultaneously, the Fat Man slapped a talisman on the retreating ghost, but it didn’t dissolve into smoke. Instead, it spun and lunged at him, aiming to possess him.

But it had chosen the wrong target. Of everyone present, Song Nianqiang’s soul was the strongest—no ghost could possess him. And the Fat Man, with his naturally pure yang constitution, was even less susceptible. Not even a Ghost King could easily possess him, let alone a second-class ghost.

The Shadow Ghost suddenly sizzled as if scalded by a hot iron, and Song Nianqiang, already prepared, unleashed a Five Thunder Incantation upon it. After three consecutive strikes, the ghost could withstand no more and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Though they had dispatched this Shadow Ghost, who could say how many more were lurking? The other types of ghosts were visible, but after ten minutes, none appeared.

The silence was terrifying. Everyone’s breathing was audible, and a heavy weight pressed on their hearts. If this stalemate continued, the skin-peeling ghost would grow too powerful. If they waited much longer, not one of them would be a match for it—they’d only serve as fodder for its teeth.

With a crash, the bedroom door burst open, and a ghost, drenched in blood, staggered in. Its head lolled to the side, its intestines spilled from its belly, and it had only one leg. As it entered, the room lights flickered on, though a few candles still floated in the air, their flames barely noticeable under the electric light.

“Watch out for those candles!” Song Nianqiang, recalling his previous experience, kept a close eye on them, caring little for the bloody, headless ghost. Gunfire erupted, and even the usually calm archer unleashed a volley of arrows at the headless specter.

But the attention of the remaining four was fixed on the floating candles—they knew these were the real threat.

Sure enough, after a minute, the candles flared to life, casting an eerie green glow. Suddenly, the archer let out a scream—he was stabbing his own hand with his arrow.